Broadband Program

Residents and visitors, municipalities and businesses, educational institutions andcultural organizations, and the health care industry in the Rockingham PlanningCommission (RPC) region all consider broadband to be critical infrastructure.Reliable, high speed internet service is an essential tool for accomplishing tasks thatmake positive contributions to our regional economic health and social welfare. Ina short period of time, access to broadband has changed the ways in which wemanage both home and work.

In the RPC region, most sectors of the economy perceive broadband service to beadequate. However, lack of competition is seen as preventing consumer choice andcreating high costs for service. Lack of information on the location and type ofbroadband service available is an obstacle to planning for service improvements.

The RPC’s Regional Broadband Plan was developed by RPC staff with guidance froma Broadband Stakeholders Group comprised of representatives from the utilityindustry, municipal boards, community organizations, and an economicdevelopment agency. Their insight and knowledge about the current state ofbroadband, as well as invaluable knowledge about the history of internetdevelopment in the region, enabled the RPC to develop this Plan, establish aregional broadband vision, and create regional recommendations designed toincrease the availability, adoption, affordability and performance of broadband.